Chapter 14: A slice of Dawn
The Summer holidays had just begun for Dwwn and Since Sunnydale high got demolished by her sisters very own demon slaying antics the board of education had decided to extend the holidays for another 4 weeks so everyone had a full 10 weeks free and the replacement school was already being built and Xander had landed his new job and was aparently so swamped with work that Faith had to go down to the site and help him out.
Funny thing about 6ft 2 amazon women is they get alot of attention from both genders right up until the moment she declares she's a dyke and throws a man 20ft woth barely any effort whatsoever and has to heal his unconcious body with magic when no one was looking. turns out when your cute blonde girlfriend whose a whole head smaller can out arm wrestle the biggest men on the site for cash, no one really tries to mess with you after that, especially when you're bringing your dear friend and beautiful girlfriend their extremely well made lunches.
Faith was in shock until she realised it was Dawn that had actually made the lunches because there was no way on gods green and verdant earth had Buffy cooked anything without hurning down the house. Dawn had saved the kitchen on the fourth day they had been back because she had tried to suprise Faith with breakfast in bed. Although she was very pleased turning around in the heavy smoke she had caused to see a scantily clad brunette beauty wielding a fire extinguisher and panicking for her lovers safety.
Dawn was thoroughly aware at this point she had the weirdest parents of anyone in Sunnydale and that was when she caught herself again, a hick up. A small mis step in her thought processes where she always seemed to place both of them in motherly and fatherly roles even though her memories said something completly different. her head was screaming at her they were her blood, her source and her place of rooting to this earthly plane. her memories said nope, that's ya sister and her ex enemy turned love interest and it just didn't add up.
That was why Dawn had told them both she would be returning with them tommorow to Al-kufir after an extremly intensive training session where she had managed to accidently choo on of Spikes fingers off but thankfully his Gem of Amara fixed it up instantly. she wasn't as magical as the Slayers now were and their enhanments and enchatments affected this dimension in many interesting ways and Spikes Gem didn't work very well when they trained together so he was left solely to Dawn duty and he quite honestly found himself enjoying the role of mentor alot more than he would of thought so only a few days ago.
Drusilla and he were taking well to their new souls and actually suffered very little torment from their actions in the past, Drusilla even spoke and acted like a normal person the vast majority of the time now. the biggest shock was how religous she was, the human Drusilla who posessed a soul was a devout Nun for many years before she had the misfortune of being set upon by the filthy artistic designs of the Dark warrior Angelus.
Ruby had taken very quickly to the newly ensouled vampire lovers and even allowed them to both stay upstairs in the room she had made for Faith and Buffy since no one was using it currently. she had even made a secondary Gem of Amara for the once mad vampress so she and Spike could live a semi normal life whenever others were not around and it suited them both somewhat. Spike was even less foul mouthed and vastly more polite than anyone had ever seen him being since the first time they had met the vamoire was a rabble rousing punk rocker and now he was a demure and well spoken english gentleman.
Dawn had found it odd but something to be admired as his dedication to the mad seeress was also one of his finer points. But Dawn wanted to ask Ruby something and since their training session had just ended and Spike had promised he would take Drusilla out to see a movie tonight after Ruby had magically conjured them up blood to eat which was absoloutly murder free and she used an extremly complex duplication spell to turn a pin prick of Anyas blood into a wine barrels worth.
Anya was happy to help and even got paid for doing so as Rubys buisness was booming and showing absoloutly no signs of stopping anytime soon but she had admitted it wouldn't anyway since she had ways of just magically stealing all the cash she wanted so her buisness was never going to be in any real danger anyway. But As they were both chowing down on magic Anya blood Dawn took a Ruby to the side so she could ask her a question or two in private.
"Ruby, what am i? i mean really, something just feels off all the time you know?" Dawn gave her a somewhat worried and quizzical look as she whispered her soft words and looked around the room to make sure no one heard her and it seemed like no one but Ruby herself had and that's when she said "Lets talk about this in private little one" and Ruby walked her over to the door in fhe back behind the cash register and scaled the stair with her and they entered her living room.
This living room was really supposed to be for her Slayers as the rooms were adjacent but the vamps used em currently and left it absoloutly spotless which was another perk of having english vampires with souls around it seemed.
Ruby sat down on the soft blue sofa and next to her sat a nervous and worried teenage girl who just wanted to know who she really was and she knew that if she had asked Buffy and Faith they would of let the cat out of the bag and yet Ruby was brutally honest and she didn't need coddling and half answers, she needed facts delivered in a timely fashion and direct to the point.
"Dawn, you jnow they will reveal everything to you if you just ask... i must ask why, why on earth would you come to me?" Ruby in her human form gave her a worried smile and a passiinate look of understanding as if the witch was actually acutely aware of the 'why' but she had just not wanted to say it out loud for some reason.
"When Buffy or Faith have a problem, they trust you and Buffy trusts no one and Faith... believes no one. but they both trust you and always speak of you highly which is weird cause i don't really think you like my mother all that much" Dawn slapped her hand to her mouth as she said it out loud this time and not internally and that was when Ruby had connected the dots as to why Dawn had come specifically to her.
"They are your parents little one and right now your mind is fighting the memories isn't it. but i need you to understand something before we have this discussion" Ruby was sat up straight and dignified where as Dawn was practically on the edge of her seat and almost biting her nails of in panic at what the truth could be.
"They both know exactly what you are, they know you were made of them both and love you as their own. you are their daughter and also only five weeks old..." Ruby had absoloutly bamboozled the young girl but instead of panicking and over reacting Dawn just tilted her head and looked at her with a 'What the hell are you talking about?' kind of look and it didn't go away as Ruby began to explain.
"Glorificus is an extremly powerful god, expulsed from her dimension and needs a key of great magical power and signficance to return to her heavenly domain, you Dawn are that key and were molded by monks who were spooked by the absence of the Slayers. Your parents were their only real backup plan before she arrives through the portal from her dimension to this one and she is currently in transit" Ruby slid over to Dawn and placed a hand upon her leg and rubbed it with a soft thumb in an attempt to soothe the obviously confused girl.
"They were watching the Slayers closely in Al-kufir and realised they might never return and they only place they could conjure a body for you was here and they decided to bring them back using you as the catalyst for their plan. they know Glorificus is coming and were well aware they could not protect the key alone. the idiot god wants you so she can return and enact her revenge on the gods that overthrew her" and Dawn placed her hand on Rubys and asked her own question.
"So all my memories and the memories of every one who knows me are fake? i'm not real, am i?" Dawn felt a tear fall down her cheek as she began to shake uncontrollably at the horror od her own existence. Although Ruby was not worriying, on the contrary she was smiling.
"Do you know how long both Faith and Buffy were aware... from the day i met you and they were happy when they realised they had a daughter to love and hold. Your parents may be strange and stronger than demi gods on magic steroids but Dawn... they truly and deeply love you! they spent that first month with you to get to know who you are and afterwards they returned to Sunnydale a place they despise to stand gaurd over you!" Ruby pulled the girl into a hug and she collapsed crying in the enchantresses human arms.
"You may be an impossibly powerful ball of magical energy, but you are made of them both and they adore you! if only you knew how many times i have spoke to both of them in private, worried they wouldn't be good enough parents for you! worried they would fail you!" Ruby stroked the girls hair and placed a loving kiss on the girls worried and frowning forehead with a soft ease.
"They told me both that you were the most important person in their lives so you are not just a key for Glorificus, you are the daughter of the Slayers and they would do anything to see you safe in this world or the next. so don't you ever worry about the litle things like those fake memories little one. They want to make new ones with you and only you" Ruby held Dawn close and tight as the girl sobbed lightly but took in every word she had said to her with a deep and morbid understanding of what she was now.
"They love me? why... i've only been alive a little over a month! how could they love me... i'm a monster, a freak!" Dawn cried and that was when Ruby grabbed her by the shoulder and oushed her back just far enough to look her deeply in the eyes and give her a good talking to.
"You are Family Dawn! They want you and believe me that their are many in every dimension that ciuldn't give a damn what and where their children are in this life. many in Africa chuck their kids into the street for no reason and leave them for dead and you parents want you so badly they are scared to leave you alone over the weekend in this dimension. You have no idea how lucky you were to have my Faith and Buffy as your parents! they even forced me to promise to protect you if Glorificus kills them" Ruby grabbed her chin as she tried to look away and forced her to look her directly in the eyes with her impossible magical strength.
"You are wanted Dawn, you are loved! forget your origin for it does not matter, what truly matters is what you do! how you do it and why!" Ruby felt the girl calm down and let her go slowly and Dawn sat back into the sofa a little bit away from Ruby and rubbed her jaw in annoyance and then cleaned her puffy crying eyes as she took in what she was told even more.
"They love me? it must be true, every night i sleep in their bed because i'm afraid they'll be gone one morning again like last time. I'm scared Ruby and i want to be strong for them but i'm five weeks old and i can barely throw a good hook!" Dawn rubbed her eyes and sighed deeply and it caused Ruby to chuckle lightly as she realised Dawn sighed like Faith when she was annoyed and tired, like an old man and it always made Ruby smile.
"You yawn like Faith you know, you are so lucky to have her as your father you know. my girls adore her and were angry with me when i told them we had buisness here in Sunnydale, thanfully friday nights to monday mornings were a great work around for everyone" Ruby chuckled as she stood up and began pacing lightly around the room.
"Faith told me she would be swamped with my daughters attention before she even had a chance to prep her saturday and sunday morning art classes" Ruby noticed Dawn wear a prideful look upon her face at how beloved and talented her magical father was and the fact it inspired such emotions in her was a great sign to the enchantress.
"I promised to patrol with Buffy and she would take me to target practice, but told me i have to use the 1911 since her c39 blasts holes in sandworms and aparently its easy to hit skmething when you fire lighning at it like an angry greek god" Dawn shrugged her shoulders and accidentally cracked her neck and thankfully had no lasting pain from the sudden action and found it to be quite pleasent in fact.
"Well you parents are leaving any street patrols to Spike and Willow and the graveyards are warded and the local demons have been slaughtered in droves ever since the Slayer have learned to sense demonic energies. you on the other hand have a long way to go and Buffy is preparing you for her worst nightmare, so if i were you i would listen to her with a wide open and inquistive ear young one. because she knows what she is doing, but didn't tell her i said that..." Ruby found herself revulsing at the idea that Buffy would ever know she really liked her and even regarded her with such a high regard but she didn't need the Slayer to be aware of that in any way. she wanted to keep her on her toes.
"You can tell them i know everything whenever you want, i think you've put it into perspective for me, made everything a little clearer... but when we go home tommorow night... i'm not baby sitting your kids again cause i need Slayer strength that i aint got yet... they're little terrors Ruby. what on earth do you feed em, caffeine and sugar with a hint of super caffeinated chocolate or sommin" Dawn joked as Ruby made her way to the door to leave and she turned to the small brunette and sign for her to follow.
"Come with me, you have an extra magic lesson with me before your parents arrive for dinner... and Dawn..." Ruby held her gaze with a soft and bright smile she wasn't sure her actual form could even muster.
"Yh... what's up Rubes?" Dawn asked as she stood up and wiped her eyes clear and tried to right herself before they went back downstairs to the magic shop.
"We love you little one, even if you're brand new. and the Slayers accepted you the moment they knew. Faith was scared she wouldn't be enough for you... it broke my heart to hear her so scared that she would fail you in some way. You are lucky Dawn and one day you'll be stronger than any demon and you have half of Faith inside you..." Ruby took Dawns hand as she directed her past the threshold of the door and closed it before walking back to the shop floor with the young straight haired brunette.
"Don't you ever be afraid to come to me or your parents, for anything. oh! that reminds me young one. when we are at home tommorow evening i have been asked to go weapon shopping with you all" Ruby was pleasently suprised Dawn had held the door open for her this time and thought to herself that she defiently got her manners from Faith rather than Buffy, she seemed to get her clumsiness from the blonde one to an almost absurd degree.
"Well, we'll all be there so maybe it'll be easier since you can tell us what enchantments would be available for each weapon, Buffy has her C39 and Faith has a 1911, so american! but me... i have no idea what i'd want and what if i chose the same as one of them... they'd think i favoured one of them over the other!" Dawn felt a tinge of panic rise in the back of her throat as she verbalised her internal thoughts quicker than she had processed them.
"Well we still have to choose a blade of some sorts, it really depends on what the outfittery has stocked Dawn... Faith chose the cool lookin 1911 and for some reason the golden haired wonder went full nazi c39 mauser and she had a way bigger selection but hey boom! she chose an imported antique over Kasina bow guns and Meckia machine gun arms" Ruby seemed to really dislike her gun selection for some reason and then Dawn imagined Buffy wifh a machine gun arm and could help but feel it'd make her look so much cooler in her cowboy gear.
Ruby realised and asked her, "You imagjning Buffy with a machine gun arm aren't you! i told her once and she told me i was crazy and she still had her hand so why would she need one! the damn guns work with or without you being an amputee... she tasks me!" Ruby had caught the attention of both Vampires and Anya as well as she entered back into the shop and gave them all a cold dead stare.
Dawn rushed past her and explained. "Don't worry guys Ruby just thinks Buffys choices in weaponry are kinda dumb! what do you guys think?" Dawn smiled wide trying to not think about the fact she was now acutely aware of the simple fact she was basically a fully developed nearly 16 year old magical girl who was about to chose her first weapons for fighting the forces of evil.
Spike spoke up after a moments silence and said "She once kicked my ass in a park with nunchucks! i think she watched some bruce lee film that week... she should of tried the silly H'ya sounds! would that not be a strange little memory in retrospect" Spike chuckled to himself as Drusilla pulled his hand to hers across the table and gave him a subtle 'it's fine' type of look and they both decided it was time to go see their afternoon film Drusilla had picked specifically from the local paper because she liked the sound of the title.
"Come honey! we have 25 minutes until opening and i personally want to find a good seat and get some decent snacks. plus the trailers are fun!" Drusilla as a non mad Seeress was quite a sight to behold and now that she could walk in the daylight her and Spike had been taking many excursions day and night as they came to term with their new found human morality coming back to them and the myriad of horrifying memories and emotions seemed to be easier to battle together and sitting on a park bench enjoying an ice cream or a pretzel.
"See you guys later, i got an impromptu magic lesson again, tell me how the film was eh!" Dawn hugged them both and even kissed them both goodbye. for Drusilla it was a strange thing to be so normal and lucid for once but she had discussed with her William a few times how her mind being in one place constantly was a blessing compared to her semi lucid moments she suffered in the past.
"May god bless you all! now come too William, you promised me delicious confectionaries before the flick starts and i was meaning to try and see if our souls would enhance our taste buds" Drusilla who was still wearing her usual gothic atire just more modestly and in a more stylized manner was half way out of the door with her englishman in tow who was grinning happily from ear to ear.
As the shop bell clinged and klanged as it opened and closed Dawn found herself realizing something and vocalising it out loud "Huh, i guess this is the first time Williams ever met the real Drusilla... she's a kind and devout woman isn't she, isn't that weird?" Her questiin hung in the air for a few lonely moments and wasn't really meant to be answered and yet Anya took a shot at it.
"Well the demon who took her souls place and all that torture by Angel plus her visions must of really warped her personality. especially since the soul is basically a moral compass among many other things, we can make a choice to listen to it or ignore it... they couldn't" Anya was restocking a few of the shelves as she spoke and Ruhy interupted them both.
"I have cast many spells and we do not have to worry, both Vampires have no desire for evil anymore, in fact Drusilla herself want's to go to church again like she used too when she was young..." Ruby had to make sure she wasn't harboring evil of any kind as it could ruin her own plans for the fight with Glorificus, the fight to save Dawn.
"But, she'll fry if she touches a cross, holy water... maybe we could help her with a spell or something? give her some kind of holy protection so she can pray in peace again ya know." Dawns heart was in the right place but Ruby had a suprise for Dawn concerning religious vampires.
"She has a soul now Dawn and Belief, she has Faith in something bigger than herself, if she truly believes then no cross can hurt her and nor any kind of holy water either. her soul will give her many advantages and disadventages moving forward" Ruby was pleased to hear the door swing open again and even though it was Buffy wandering in with an exhausted looking Willow she was still full of life and energy.
The poor redhead looked like she had been through the ringer in the last 24 hours and Ruby was already sure it was to do with the werewolf boyfriend leaving her as she had fingersmin every pie this town had to offer and quite a few of those pies were currently red hot and ready to pounce upon. but right now Ruby had a heartbroken witch to deal with and her aura was currently all over the place and she wanted to get her mind off the lanky ginger werewolf before she did something she would regret.
"Miss Rosenberg, this seperation will lead to a deeper love soon enough... myself and our little Dawn over here are about to start another basic magic lesson and would very much benefit from your help and of course, your presence also" Ruby had an amazing ability to read a person almost instantly after her magical powers massive increase and also she had little spies magical and non magical everywhere.
"Thank you i'll help in a moment or two, it's just that well... Oz broke up with me and left Sunnydale" Willow was on the verge of almost crying freely again but it ended as a group of demons burst through the door and were screaming for the Slayers to show themselves.
The group was all shocked except for Buffy and Ruby who were well aware that every demon in the western hemisphere was now gunning for them after Buffy and Faith decimated 4 groups at a clan meeting last night and they were the big cheese who dealt with a ridicuoous amount of demon trade and also were known enforcers for Wolfram and heart.
"If you're planning to get revenge, it'd be easier to kill yourselves before i deal with you all in the next 10 seconds" Buffy wasn't angry sounding, no she was annoyed as her illusionary magic dropped and her cowboy outfit with the long dark leather coat came out and she unsheathed her Mauser and the 8ft boar demons dressed in expensive italian suits reached for their own guns but were instantly dispatched with lightning speed as 13 perfectly placed shots of raw arching thunder exploded forth from the barrel of her C39 Mauser in under a second flat and in the next had already connected and eviscerated the entire group of demons with what seemed like absolute minimal effort.
She sighed as she holstered her gun and the rifle she had hanging across her back with a leather strap was the first thing to be covered up again by the illusion magic and she seemed to be in stylish civilian clothes again and the demons were instantly disposed of as Ruby waved her hand and said some ominous sounding chants and they evaporated into a blue mist which dissapeared almost as quickky as it appeared.
"Did you forget to renew the protections or are you thinking up new ones to allow Spike and Drusilla inside without them bursting into flames?" Buffy sighed as she opened a small window in her hand and no one could see that she was magically spyjng on Faith as she was working with Xander on the building site. she smiled as she magically heard Xander telling Faith 'She's really different around you ya know, Angel doesn't hold a damn candle to what you two have' and Faith playfully slapped him on the shoulder as Buffy closed the window and Looked back up to Dawn who was now in front of her and not looking happy about what her mother was up to.
Buffy looked at her like a deer in the headlights "What? don't look at me like that... i havent seen her in 12 hours, don't be all... all judgy" Dawn put her hand on Buffys and pulled her in withna light touch to whisper in her ear as Willow was being taken to the training room to begin the process of trying to get her mind off of Oz leaving by a very understanding Ruby who was working overtime right now.
"You don't need to spy on Faith, she would never do anything to hurt you... she isn't Angel, she actually loves you mother" Dawn blurted out the word mother so naturally that for a moment Buffy hadn't even recognized it and was a bout to respond but ended up stuttering a mixed up jumble of words she couldn't quite get a grasp of.
"I know, I discussed everything with Ruby and she came clean but don't get mad at her. i basically twisted her arms emotionally ya know." Dawn looked towards the door and around the shop and realised Anya was probably in the back room and getting hold of some more stock and she took in the atmosphere of the evening light shining through the window and causing a beautiful sepia toned light to envelope and warm the magical shop floor.
"Ruby says you both love me and i din't wanna tip toe around this stuff anymore, i know i have trouble sleeping without you both close, hell i got used to Al-Kufir to the point everything here in Sunnydale feels wrong and kinda perverse" Dawn let Buffys hand go and it fell to her side as she listened to what Dawn had to say rather than respond and maybe read the moment wrong. that was something she had learned from Faith, to keep a cooler head and not just react emotionally all the time.
"But I'm proud you are my parents and i'm scared in more ways you could imagine about the fact i'm only five weeks old. But you accepted me instantly, Ruby even said she loves me and she aint the kinda enchantress or soul to just chuck those kind of words around all willy nilly" Dawn chuckled and lightly scoffed as she realised she had stolen another english term from Spike and made it her own again.
"We do, we really do love you Dawn... but we would never leave you here alone, why do you think you're gonna stay with us on weekends in Al-Kufir?" Buffys soft voice threw Dawn for a loop just like her piercing green eyes staring directly into her daughters deep blue eyes and they held eachother in place as the conversed privately upon the shop floor.
"I'm made of you both and i felt it before i knew of it. Buffy, you're an amazing mother just so you know... i know sleeping in your bed every night since we got back has made it harder for you and Faith to be... intimate..." Dawn began to say awkwardly as she broke eye contact but the blonde death machine just playfully stepped forward and lightly flicked her forehead to the sound of an annoyed 'huh? ow!' and Buffy giggled as she spoke softly back with a loving tone to her voice.
"Hey, you must be pretty dumb if you think we don't find ways around that pumpkin belly. plus Faiths way too soft on you ya know! she wouldn't let me kick you out of bed if the bed was on fire" Buffy waved her hand and two cups of tea appeardd on the table next to the magical tomes section in the back of the shop and Buffy motioned to Dawn they should go and enjoy a cup of tea and contjnue talking over there away from the shop floor.
"Faith'll be here in 10 minutes tops and then i can explain how we don't need to tiptoe around you parentage anymore, she wanted to tell you by the way but was scared to death of hurting you. we kinda thought it would be easier to let it come out all naturally and then you wouldn't have to worry about it at all until you were ready" Buffy sat down and sipped her tea as Dawn joined her and Anya soon after stepped back onto the shop floor with a wicker basket full of replacement magical paraphanalia.
She waved to them both happily and they kindly returned the gesture as she got back to work and the girls kept their voices low so she couldn't hear their conversation without great effort on her part. thanfully the shop was large, long and didn't suffer from an echo and that made everything so much easier when trying to have a private family discussion.
"You shouldn't use a magic spyglass to spy on Faith, she might think you don't trust her or something if she ever found out!" Dawn was empassioned but kept her voice low and was unaware that the idea and ability for her to even conjure that small window came frkm Faith herself after Buffy was begining to get a little too grouchy when Faith got home the last two days after helping Xander on the construction site.
"I can only see her because she gave me permission and tailored the spell so that i wouldn't be blocked by our enchantments, Dawn she's my soul mate and it's nice to know you worry about us but, let Mummy and Daddy deal with their love in private please. I've been with her for over two years now and we actually wanted to ask you what you would think if we tied the knot" Buffy dropped a bombshell on Dawn and she was close to spazzing out but barely managed to contain herself as she almost squealed in excitement.
"Are you serious?! really! how long have you been planning this... why didn't you tell me, but wait aren't we going to live in Al-Kufir after all this glorificus god slaying nonsense, why gst married here? plus you have those long life enchantments too... oh!" Dawns sudden realisation overcame her like a violent riptide.
"Cause if you're gonna be young and powerful with a lifespan comparable to a vamp, can't stay in Sunnyhell forever before people start asking questions..." Dawn slapped her forehead and rolled her eyes which caused a slight smile to make itself known across Buffys pert red lips. that was when Dawn noticed her young mother was wearing a little makeup which was something she barely wore since she knew it was bad for her ski in the long run.
"You're wearing lipstick? since when... ahh for Faith! you wanna look pretty for your soon to be wife!" Dawn began to start playfully jabbing whose face was turning red at an alarming rate as she realised her magical child had caught her out.
"Shut up, I'm allowed to put in some effort you know! you'll understand when you find someone special!" Buffy looked away and tried to hide her face in her tea cup to absoloutly no avail and it was obviously a pointless endeavor Dawn was thoroughly enjoying herself as she never had a hand up on Buffy ever since she was a child... well those memories were fake but she still enjoyed the feeling none the less.
Buffy was almost at the end of her rope as the young girl had told her how cute and romantic it was that Buffy did all the things she did for Faith and it dawned on the Slayer that she really didn't enjoy people knowing too much about her and Faiths loving relationship in the slightest. there was absoloutly no shame whatsoever but she was realising just how much of a private person she had become since living with Faith and she liked the new woman she had become.
Faith walked through the door just in the nick of time and was Bombarded by Dawns hyperactive love as she jumped up and down like she'd just downed fifteen coffees then started kn the Redbull 20 minutes ago. "Faith see, Buffys got makeup on! she want's you to notice and tell her how pretty she is!" dawn giggled as she pointed to the now redder than a tomato faced Slayer who didn't know where to look or what to think.
Faith had a slight grin dress her face with a soft looking eye as she spoke in her deep husky bostonian voice. "Looks even more beautiful when she blushes like that little one, you might wanna go to Ruby and start your extra magic lesson... yes she told me telepathically on the way here, i know everything!" Faith placed a finger on her lip and shushed her as she directed the young girl to the training room.
Dawn listened and did as she was told and hugged her other parent before dissapearing into the training room and leaving Faith to wander over towards the made up Blonde Slayer and sat on the table top next to her and leaned in so she cohld place a loving kiss that her curly brown locks hid from any onlooker that may or may not be looking in and being more nosh than they should.
Anya quite enjoyed watching them flirt and kiss but fhat was only because she was secretly harbouring her own little Faith based crush and was so swamped with work she hadn't the chance to find a man or women ans just give it away.
"Kids can be a handful eh B! but you are unbelievably beautiful, did you really do this for me?" Faith raised her hand and rested a thumb on her pouting lips, she hadn't wanted the kiss to break away so soon and Faith knew how deeply her girl was in need of her rougher brand of hard loving right now.
Buffy whispered in return "I want you Faith, badly... but you like the makeup right? it's not too much or?..." Buffy asked half horny and half nervously as Faith pulled her back in for another kiss and was cut off by a sudden appearence of Anya who had an awfully large grin on her face as she was about to part some knowledge on both of them.
"Ya know the bed upstairs hasn't been used once right! and the locks good and thd room is magically soundproofed by Ruby herself. Anyone who wanted some privacy for the next few hours would also be happy to know there is an en-suite bathroom with a working shower and no one would disturb you if you just went upstairs and... i dunno read a book together or get some well ewrned shut eye" Anya winked knowingly and dangled the rooms silver key in front of their understanding faces.
Buffy and Faith both gave eachother a hungry look which ended in a wink and a nod before Faith swiped the key and held Buffy in a suddens firemens carry as she rushed up the stairs and left the Ex-Vengeance demon in the lurch and completly alone in the shop just a little before closing time.
"Man, they could of at least said thank you or asked if i wanted to join in or something... mortals can be so inconsiderate at times! Oh well, there's always next time" Anya walked over to the cash register and sighed as she began to count the take for the day. her mind wandered to all the strangeness of her life recently and how different the Slayers were since she last saw them. it made her heart yearn for something more like she used to in the early days of her life when she was known as Aud.
Being newly mortal was less fun than she thought it would be but she was slowly getting the hang of it and even had a small flat nearby and more than enough walking around money which made life in fhis god forsaken town extremly pleasent. she could even walk home safely at night now ever since the vamp population had taking such a devestating blow you would of thought they had just discovered the black plauge or smallpox for vampires.
Those two were probably tongue deep inside eachother right about now and Anya had to admit the idea was getting her quite hot under the collar but shs would persevere and continue closing up shop for the day, even though it seemed every had someone except her. she locked the shop front and noticed the demons who Buffy pulverised into dust hadn't even managed to break the door down and that was when Anya noticed the marks magically burning into the wood.
"Ruby has repair wards and so many other wards on the shop, man this is the safest work i've ever done, beats gettjng stsbbed innthe french revoloution 13 different times" Anya chuckled to herself at the macabre memory and locked the door, turned the open sign to closed and lowered the blinds. no one needed to disturb them for the evening anyway, especially the Slayers who were just aching at the bit to get some time alone and if Anya wasn't being magically blocked out like everyone else was she would hewr the explosive hardcore fucking that was currently taking place just upstairs and behind a thin and aged wooden door.
~~*
The problem with buying you little girl her first gun seems to be the fact her own parents and a certain enchantress seem to enjoy arguing over the pros and cons of ever damn handgun and rifle or submachine gun in the entire store. Dawn was barely empowered and told she would only be as strong as a full grown man in the next month or two and that constant training would her her grow into her powers in away both Slayers never could and had to struggle with to learn.
Dawn being young and somewhat impatient was obviously having none of it but had actually taken a liking to a beautifull adorned silver Threaded Cane sword which was something the outfitteries new part time shopkeep had called a trick weapon and even Ruby had said it would be one of the best weapons to enchant due to it's natural attunement to the Thunder element like very overpowered guns Buffys guns.
Plus the trick turned the cane into a Whip sword and even Faiths eyes shot up like she was a kid in a candy store and her mother had just said buy everything yiu want, instead of beating her with a half empty beer bottle like she had so many years before she had died due to alcohol poisoning and then Faith had been given the Slayer powers and met her watcher of course. something that was still a bitter memory for her and the train of thought she was currently taking was instantly derailed when Buffy locked her arm into hers and leaned against Faith with a gentle and loving sigh.
"So Dawns obviously taking the cane and you are going to teach her to fence Darling but what about her gun choice... we already took the cool guns, maybe she could get a revolver or a beretta or... a Volks pistol, maybe a machine gun arm or without the arm attachment" Buffy was rambling as she was also unaware of what Dawn would like or even what would be considered good for her especially as right now she was quite underpowered and she would have to grow into the weapon slowly unlike them.
Dawn smiled as she saw a beautiful silver barreled sawn of Shoutgun with a beautiful burnt ebony hand grip with stylish grip plates that helped her terribly slippery hands gain some purchase on the beautiful piece of craftmanship. she took it out of the display case and asked Ruby what she thought, the new worker wasn't nervous as he was well aware Buffy and Faith would never rob the shop or at the moment Dawn had reached to open the cabinet he would of had his own gun pointing back at her.
But he hadn't needed to as he was also one of the many people who had been enriched by the Slayers presence and had also thought with them a few times on the town gaurd during watch duty and he was deeply and truly thankful they were here as even though people were aware they were gone five days a week it kept the shadier elements of Al-kufir from doing anything stupid again like the time a demon tried to sneak a grenade into the watchmens hut and Faith emereged unscathed and ripped his head off with her bare hands. she was thankful she had sent the others to get some food and grab their sketch books to pass the time with.
No one had dared even look at the Slayers wrong after that and right now it seemed their Daughter was going into the family buisness and waiting for Ruby the Great Enchantress to read the shotguns properties and decide if it was worthy of use in the coming days.
Ruby was again small and robed as she was floating in the air effortlessly and seemed to be pleased as she handed the shotgun back and whispered to Dawn not so sneakily, "Oh yeah, i'm going to make this sawn off way cooler than anything those two idiots have got, might even have a new idea for that threaded cane too" She turned to an annoyed looking Faith and an angry looking Buffy who did not look happy she was going to spoil their daughter with cooler magic than they currently had.
"You spoil our little girl too much Ruby! she's going to become a narcissist or a nepo baby... and what the hell do you mean cooler weapons than us! i have thunder guns and an ice machete, Faith has a lava spewing rifle and a silent 1911 laser pistol... how the hell are you gonna make her weapons cooler!" Buffy was annoyed not just because Ruby was spoling their daughter but she didn't want her daughter to have better weaponry then them both. Dawn would love rubbing it in her face and they both knew it.
"I actually want to replace my Ax, i have been wanting to try a saber or something more rapier like for awhile and maybe right now is a good time to upgrade my own melee weapon?" Faith spoke outloud as Dawn stood smugly and asked Ruby what her plan was as her tall magical Father browsed the sword with her mother and were suprised at the wide variety on display, some were even very alien and cool looking but not Faiths style at all.
Dawn was whispering to Ruby as they began to go over her ideas, "So what the plan you got to give me cooler enchantments, the threaded cane would be cool as hell as a lightning whip but the sawnoff had to be something that really packs a punch! strikes fear into the heart of my enemies... i don't have any but ya know i wanna look badass!" Dawn was excited but trying her hardest to contain herself as Ruby whispered back so Buffy and Faith would be suprised when she showed them how cool her new weapons are going to be.
"Dawn, thunder whip is going to strike alot of fear into demons and hell i'll teach you the magic to shoot it from fhe blade at crazy speeds but how about two elements... ice and Lightning both modes as a sword cane and a whip, plus always sharp almost indestructible and, you can call it to you from anywhere and it will come instantly" Ruby loved the look on the young straight haired brunettes face and all the ideas of cool poses and intimidation tactics started flooding her mind with a deep passion.
"Oh my god! i'm gonna scare the shit out of Glorificus or just vamps! man i'm gonna look so cool!" Dawn giggled and hugged Ruby who was a whole lot different feeling out of human form but definetly not unpleasent to touch, just strangely shaped dawn thought to herself.
Faith grabbed hold of a military looking saber with a beautfiul royal blue scabard and an intricate handgaurd which made the piece come together with its silver finish and blue segmented leather handle wrap which really impressed Buffy and that was when she knew she had picked the correct blade. especially since Faiths goal was to just look all regal and cool and make her girl have hearts in her eyes whenever she pulled out this awesome looking military saber from some possibly alien world.
Dawn let her eyes wander over to the two Slayer and for a moment found herself frozen in time as she found herself lost in their obvious love for eachother and couldn't help but feel her heart pang and beat heavier in her chest as she found herself silently praying fhat one day she herself would find someone who she could look at in the same way and would look back at her as if she was the only worthwhile thing in the entire universe.
"Makes you think doesn't it, they're some of the lucky ones in this life... love like that is rare and hard fought for" Ruby Handed Dawn the beautiful ebony sawn off shotgun and she shook herself back to reality and the cinversation and took the weapon from her.
"Guess i'm just being a bit jealous and introspective Rubes, want the same for myself someday, but hey! we'll just have to see what's in the cards for old Dawn Summers." The young brunette looked mournful as if she didn't quite believe that the chance of such a love occuring was really in said cards for her.
"Well you can do the whole falling in love thing when you're a bit older and stop eyeing up that handsome english vampire living on my sofa, why on earth he never uses the bed is beyond me, weird guy" Ruby noticed the Slayers were both going to the counter to inquire of the new blue saber and Ruby took a chance to ask her something.
Dawns face was red as a tomato as she hadn't thought she was being all that obvious with her crush but aparently it was obvious as all hell and she didn't like that very much at all. "Hmmm, why do you think the vampires sleep seperately? they are a couple i would assume but unlike my Slayers they seem to abstain from too much, closeness...". Ruby tilted her head in confusion since her own race didn't really have male or female, they had themselves and they mutiplied by choice and rather easily so Ruby wasn't fully aware of all the human customs at all yet and was still very much learning.
Dawn sighed and whispered back to the Enchantress. "William told me they aren't together, they have too much history to just walk away from eachother. especially as they navigate her new found sanity and his remorse for his many, many victimes and torments he was inflicted with and dealt unto others himself" Dawn could feel Ruby was confused as to how she knew all this but listened as she explained.
"We talk alot Ruby, he's honest with me unlike other people. he doesn't have anyone else and we both get along pretty damn well... and before you say anything i know he's dangerous but i feel like he always had a moral compass and in my constructed memories, he saved me alot." Dawn smiled wt the falsehoods the monks had implanted inside her, but there must have been a reason as to why she trusted Spike, there must be something good and true deep within him.
"He had soul residue still inside him, his demon didn't fully take over because he was pure and his morals were strong, he was a man filled with loves and passions from my readings of him. he's a strange one of a kind person, i could show you his story if you would like. he would never have to know and its only a moderate difficulty spell anyway" Ruby said it so nonchalantly that Dawn couldn't believe she had said it at all.
"No! i wouldn't betray William like that, his past is private and his to share ya know. it's not my place to pry but it is my place to ask you how you're gonna make my Sawn off the coolest ass shotgun ever to be fired into a demons cranium" Dawn went from somber looking to giddy over the course of her statement and pointed the gun out and looked down the barrel and began to image how cool she must look since the weapons shop didn't have any mirrors to pose within and build up her ego.
Ruby seemed to think before she spoke and decided to go along with the little ones sudden topic change, "Well we could make sure you never have to reload like your parents of course, but since yiu threaded can is going to switch between thunder and ice at will then maybe we should make sure you're sawnoff is something a little Extra" Ruby was porbably smiling under her robes at the idea she had just come up with.
"Buffy has thunder and ice weapons, Faith a laser pistol and a fire ax... well soon a saber but you should have something different and i'm thinking super high speed water would be amazing and cut through almost anything, wind magic with a wide spread shot could have the same effect though or and this is kinda crazy but.." Ruby trailed off as Buffy and Faith returned with hed new saber and Ruby noticed the blade would only be able to take an ice or light element and would have to tell Faith after she was finished with Dawn.
"You could have a magically thick and widespread shotgun blast with magically exploding pellets upon impact consisting of the light or darkness element, obviously made to fire as fast as you can pull that trigger" Ruby didn't have time to finish as all three girls said "Holy shotgun!!!" in unison and Ruby realised the decision had been made for her at long last.
"Oh Faith your saber only takes ice or light element, no flaming sword for you, well unless you use a spell but theirs no point as enchantments are vastly superior and permament" Ruby walked with them to the counter but Faith spied the clock on the wall and realised she had five minutes to get down to the school house for her weekly art lesson and hastily kissed Buffy goodbye and hugged both Ruby and Dawn goodbye and told them she would be back in time for dinner and they shouldn't get into trouble without her.
As Faith sped out of the shop she left the blade with them and began to make her way through the crowds of hard working people some of which were students of hers on the way to her very own class. she knew her new blade would be enchanted by fhe time she got home and she couldn't wait to smell the scent of her art supplies and that musky old sun bleached classroom again.
Al-Kufir was home to her and she had missed the sights and sounds more than she wanted to and couldn't wait to teach her lesson plan of monochromatic shading in a single cooour as she had spent weeks prepping pictures and teaching aides while authoring a very detailed lesson plan and draw along demonstration. Her and Buffy had tried to watch some bob ross reruns but found his voice way too soothing and had fallen asleep on the sofa only to be awoken by an annoyed Dawn who wanted to go to bed and still couldn't sleep without them nearby.
She was almost to the door and was thankful she had set things up ahead of time in the early morning hours before taking a walk with Ruby and her family and making the rounds before purchasing the new weapons for her little girl. she screamed good morning to her gathering students as she unlocked the school house door and welcomed everyone inside without having lost a single breath.
~~*
Dawn had somehow found herself in her first real fight only an hour after her weapons had been enchanted as a known bounty had wandered into town and had tried to kidnap her all alone as she had come out of the Sugar boy and stepped out alone onto the street. But what the bounty hadn't expected was how fast and focused Dawn was as her whole body had recoiled at his touch and she had shot towards the ground and performed a leg sweep that had knocked the punk rock looking pig demon on his ass.
Buffy was already next to Dawn in a second flat but was stopped by Ruby who telepathically reminded her she had cast protection spells on the small girl and this was a perfect opportunity for her to have her first real fight and if she wins then people will jnow not to mess with her.
"Dawn he's a bounty mark, dead or alive is the same price and he's a slaver, so blow his head off if ya want" Buffy tried to sound strong but her fear for Dawn safety was obviously deep within her voice but she knew her spells and some quick reaction times would make sure she could protect her little Dawn no matter what happened but the brunette didn't know that. she was innit for her life and had ho idea Buffy had prepared to protect her so thoroughly.
The pig demon pulled out a blood stained meat cleaver as Dawn magically summoned her threaded cane and tried her best to remember her sword fighting basics and fencing practice she had been put through for over a month now and as the pig was coming towards her she rushed him and managed to strike his arm and blast his entire hand off with a well placed blast of thunderous energy that elicited a might scream from the oig and an instant reaction as his remaiining arm swang around and Dawn managed to duck it in the very last moment.
The demon was panicked and had swung too hard and with so much force his missing hook had managed to set him off balance and Dawn saw an opening to disable him with the ice element she had mentally changed to instantaneously and struck both his hind legs and the were completly frozen and encased in ice and the demon pig screamed even louder as his pain was now magnified and unavoidable.
"Dawn switch to the whip and decapitate him or just blast him with the sawn off, Slavers are better off dead ok" Buffy was thankful Dawn was so fast and focused even as the crowd watching her had began to form around them all. Dawn had managed to seem strong and graceful beyond her years and it was only the panic in her eyes that had betrayed her and revealed her actual lack of experience.
"You hear that piggy, ya goose is cooked! any last words slaver!" Dawn mentally unchained her threaded cane into the whip sword mode and it dangled innthe air like a magestic snake ready to strike as the pig demon oinked with a fearful panic that sent shivers up people spines and yet no one could look away.
"Well as William always says, Bugger it all!" and Dawn spun around elegantly as the blade picked up momentum and she waited until the end of the second spin to strike and rend the demons head expertly from its shoulders with a clean cut that left behind a frozen stump of ice as his head managed to spin towards the crowds feet. as it landed no one had expected a second pig demon to try and attack but this one wasn't given a chance to strike as she shoved her ebony silver shotgun into the demons nose and bathed him in a heavenly blast of super fast light that completly evicerated the demons body and only left his bottom half as an non bleeding burnt stump.
"Holy Fucking Hell! no recoil and it is infinite... Ruby you are Amazing!!!" Dawn reholstered her shotgun on her new gun belt and telepathically reformed her threaded cane without using the physical button under the canes handle and it hadn't gone un-noticed by her golden haired mother and the talented enchantress who was wearing a happy expression underneath her robes as this public display of her enchantments would drum up a ton of buisness for her oldest daughters while she was away.
Buffy noticed how shocked but also amazed at how quick and strong her daughter was even though he was only well trained and as strong as the average man at the moment, hell she still ciuldn't beat Xander in an arm wrestling contest yet, hadn't even broke a sweat. Buffy would have to make sure this win didn't go to her head and give her an ego as Dawn did out on a bit of a show and there is no way she could of done that to any of the prior bounties her and Faith had caught or killed.
The crowd was happy to cheer for her and Dawn even gave a few bows before they people started to disperse and she returned to Buffy and thankfully under weary breath said, "Thank god they were weak or i woulda had my goose cooked!" Dawn waited until the crowd who were watchingher had moved on a bit before hugging Buffy as tight as she could and the Slayer pulled her into a soft and lovingly warm embrace.
She could feel the girls scared shivering and began to stroke her hair and whisper into her ear. "Hey pumpkin, you did good. Faith would of been proud of you if she could see what you did, it's ya first bounty and she is teaching her class and missing all the fun" Buffy pulled away from Dawn but gave her a loving kiss on the forehead and turned to Ruby to ask her something.
"Hey Ruby i'll collect Dawns Bounty and if ya don't mind could you take her home and please..." Buffy didn't even have a chance to finish her sentence as Ruby interrupted her with a joyful tone.
"Yh, yh she'll be safe as houses, come on lil Slugger, goldielocks over here's gotta do some busy work" and Ruby was not wrong as not only would she collect Dawns pay after alerting jean of the bounty but she also had some buisness dealing to take care of and then talk to the town gaurd commander for a weekly report and then lay out the plan for the next week before going home and getting to spend some much needed time with her loved ones.
"Fine, I'll take Faiths new saber from you and hang it up, maybe get some reading or a nap in before you get back, stay safe mum" Dawn sped off down the dusty main road with Ruby floating in place at about head level with her daughter and she watched them leave. although she sensed her gaurds behind her in salute and turned to greet them and tell them what happened.
"Dawn got her first bounty, chuck the bodies and i'll go deal with Jean oh and Tommy, Joanna... anything to report over the last five days?" Buffy watched her senior gaurds stand at ease and smile whole heartedly as they made it clear they were happy to see their boss again.
"Nah, been pretty slow in all honesty, Sina and Rhino have been working overtime and are pretty much dominating the bounty boards. Oh and congrats! ya wee girls got the same talents as you and Mrs Faith, you must be filled with pride" Joanna was a tall but somehow still a stocky kind of gaurd who had some very subtle snake like attributes but was one of her best and most seasoned Gaurds and she always spoke freely with them as she found it led to a more cohesive unit and heightened comradery.
"Scared, Joanna. one day she'll be as strong as us and it makes me worry about her well being. You know how the universe always seems to throw strong ass shit our way, she's still too wet behind the ears to help us on Sandworm duty but i'll have her tommorow morning over for target practice" Buffy saluted them both as she motioned to leave and they said their goodbyes and that they couldn't wait too see how good or bad of a shot Dawn would be.
Hell she knew they were gonna make a whole ass competition out of it and yet she didn't care as she rushed over to the Saloon and swung the doors open and almost ran straight into Jean who was one false move away from spilling his entire beer all over himself. thankfully he had great reactions and managed to keep himself vertical and calm as he was shocked to see Buffy standing before him as if he hadn't seen her in months when it had only been days.
"Goldielocks, when'dya get home, i thought Faith had her class and you'd be heading towards the gaurd house! Jean downed his pint and chucked the now empty beer glass onna free table and found himself hugging the girl and then jumping away with a pink flush running to his cheeks as he realised how embarrased he was at not being able to keep his emotions better hidden.
"Sorry bout that, we all kind of missed you here a little bit! But Sina and Rhino have been knocking out bounties at an alarming rate" Jean was rambling almost as if he had so many things to tell Buffy but in actuality didn't really have anything important to say and Buffy didn't really care as she was also giddy at seeing him again after five days of being away from home.
Of course they had both been away longer on jobs before but had always came back with their quarry captured dead or alive and were always ready for alot more but even though Jean knew they wiuld be back every friday night it was a strange feeling knowing they had to live another life in their home dimension to protect the little one and it seemed to play havoc in his brain as he made it clear they could just stay and Glorificus couldn't get them but he knew they had other reasons to go.
"Hey Jean, Dawn just bagged two pig demon slavers, Tommy and Joanna are dragging the bodies away as we speak, i'm here to collect" Buffy grinned and the cheery pig man sprang right into action and ran into the back room and gor right behind his desk as Buffy sauntered over to the glass and Jean took all the details and used his small waliie talkie to confirm the identities with the gaurds.
"Ahh the Unti boyz... ok thanks for the confirmation" Jeanne drew up some paperwork and used the green computer screen he had behind desk to change the bounty board and then he began to count up Dawns reward gut he also handed her a bit extra and told her the brothers payed out a little extra for both being killed together and asked her if Dawn would be joining in on any other bounties in the future.
"Nah, she aint quite tough enough for the jobs we take yet, few more years or heavy training and a dead god later and maybe, just maybe you'll get a new star bounty hunter when we return home for good" Buffy noted the happiness Jean had printed across his face as she made it clear they had no intention of staying in their home dimension. it made him happy that his best hunters and friends would be back to work after their little mission to assasinate a well known and very powerful god.
"Tell the little one she's welcome to take any of the lower tier bounties for practice as it'll make for invaluable training, of course you and Faith will have to go with her..." Jean gave her a nervous and knowing look fhat Buffy picked up on and made clear she understood.
"She's too innocent i know, that's why she's with Ruby right now. better paranoid then tricked and bamboozled Jean! how long we known each other now big man... c'mon". Buffy smiled as she used his own words against him and he handed her a small sack of Rupees and the confirmation card for her own documentation.
"I'm just happy someone round here listens to my sage like wisdom, now you get outta here goldie, i'm sure you'd rather deal with your buisness and get home to ya wife and kid than stand here and speak to little old me" Jean smiled with his swinular face and expertly lit a cigar as Buffy gave him a playful salute.
"Aye aye captain! I'll catch you later ok Faith said she misses you know. so we'll pop by in the morning so she can see ya" Buffy dropped her salute and left the Saloon as the madame was thanfully nowhere to be seen today and it meant she wouldn't be dragged up in the whirlwind of drama the House mistress would usually drum up with very little effort.
She stood on the front deck of the saloon and took in a deep breath as she took in her homes hot mid day air and realised just how much she had missed its presence in her life and she had only been away for five days. she decided to quickly walk towards the towns gaurd house which had been recently built by the new town gate and giant metal walls which would one day rust and not look so shiny as to blind anyone who looked upon them.
She had missed saying good morning to her demon friends and the dear people who she had come to love and respect in a way she never had back home, she was back in her element. her community knew her name and who she was, they knew what her job was and there wasn't a good hard working citizen who didn't respect her strength and adore her soft but powerful presence.
She was home for a few days, Buffy was home...